Switch-throwing mechanism.



0.L.LOGAN.

SWITCH THROWING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT, a, 1912.

1 058 610 Patented Apr.8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IIII'IIIA COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

0. L. LOGAN. SWITCH THROWING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SE?T. 3, 1912.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witweooc o COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN (IO-WASHINGTON, n. c.

. rails of the main line onto the siding;

UNITED STATES OLIVER Ir. LOGAN, 0F GALVESTON, INDIANA.

SWITGI-I-TI-IROWIN G MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

Application filed September 3, 1912. Serial No. 718,363.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER L. LOGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Galveston, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-ThrowingMechanism; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to railways, and more especially to switchstands; and the object of the same is to provide an attachment to thehousing of the ordinary switcht-hrowing mechanism, which attachmentincludes a latch for holding the switch lever when the latter has beenmoved to a position to interrupt traffic along the main line, andmechanism tripped by the approach of the train for moving said latch todisengage the switch lever and allow the latter to turn so that the mainline track is clear and the train may pass the switch with safety. Thisobject is carried out by constructing the attachment in the mannerhereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in thedrawings wherein- .Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating theoutside of the housing of an ordinary switch; and Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection through said housing and a plan view of all the parts thereoftheswitch in both instances being set so that it will divert the train ontothe siding or off of the main line. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged crosssections on the lines 33 and 4-it of Fig. 2 respectively. 'Fig. 5 is anenlarged vertical section, taken through this attachment on the line 55of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the tripping mechanismstanding alongside the rail of the main line and which is actuated by anapproaching train in a manner to be described hereinafter. Fig. 7 is aperspective detail illustrating part of the finger hereinafter referredto.

In the drawings I have typically illustrated the main line M and theswitch tongue T, the switch being open in Fig. 2 and in position todivert a train from thce1 an also I have shown an ordinary housing IIcontaining a rock shaft R turned in one direction by a stout spring Sand gearing G connecting said rock shaft through, links or otherconnections 0 with the switch tongue so that when the rock shaft ismoved the tongue is moved, either toward the main line rail M or awayfro-1n it. WVhen the main line is clear and the switch closed (thereverse position from that shown in Fig. 2) the switch lever L which isfast on the rock shaft B would be looked as at P as by means of apadlock, and in order to throw the switch tongue so that a train wouldbe diverted from the main line M onto the siding it would be necessaryto unlock the padlock and move the lever over to the positionillustrated in Figs. land 2.

Many accidents occur by reason of the fact that some one has thus thrownthe switch and forgotten to return it to its normal position, with theresult that a train approaches along the main line and even though theoversight is discovered there is not time to run to the switch and throwit so that the through train can pass another train which may possiblystand on the siding. The object of the present invention is toaccomplish this act automatically. I would say, however, that thedetails of the switch and its throwing mechanism as de scribed andreferred toabove by reference letters form no part of the presentinvention and are typically shown merely for purposes of illustration inconnection with my invention. The latter might be applied to the housingH and possibly contained therein, but when built as an attachment it canbe bolted to the exterior of the housing with very little change as willappear from the following specification.

To the switch weight 1; and the lever and this weight is practicallycounterbalanced by a larger weight 2 fast on the outer end of acounterbalancing lever 3 having a sleeve 4 at its inner end mountedloosely on the rock shaft lever L I would apply a R; and fast on thelatter adjacent said sleeve I secure a finger 5 pro ecting at rightangles to the direction in which the lever L projects from said shaft sothat when this lever stands horizontal as seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 thefinger will rise from the remote side of the shaft and'thecounterbalancing lever 3 will stand nearly upright with the weight 2almost directly above the shaft R. A suitable stop 6 holds it in thisposition. To

move the switch it is only necessary to re-- lease the lever L from themechanism yet to be described and raise its outer end; this rocks theshaft B so that the switch tongue is moved in a manner well understoodto those familiar with this art, and as said shaft rocks the level- 3and its weight descend to a horizontal and come to rest on a suitablestop 7 within the housing H, meanwhile substantially counterbalancingthe switch lever L and its weight 1. Further turning of the switch levercauses the finger 5 to move downward within the housing out from underthe counterbalancing lever 3 because said switch lever L and its weight1 need no longer be counterbalanced, and finally the lever L is thrownover to a position where it may be looked as at P and the main line thenbe clear. In a reversal of this action to close the switch from the mainline onto the siding, the operator would open the padlock P and raisethe switch lever L, and as the rock shaft R turns the finger 5 wouldpick up the counterbalancing lever 3 and restore the parts to theposition shown in Fig. 3. This detail of construction permits the springS (or whatever mechanism is employed in its place) to exert practicallyits entire force in throwing the switch, and perhaps moving the signalswhich may be connected therewith; leaving the lever 3 and its weight 2to offset the weight of the switch lever L and its weight 1.

For holding the switch lever L when the switch is open and its tongue Tstands as seen in Fig. 2, I provide a latch 10 pivoted at 11 within asupplemental housing 12 which can be attached by bolts or screws 13 tothe main housing H and will have its top slotted as shown at 1 1 topermit the movement of the upper beveled end 15 of said latch 10. As thefree or outer end of the switch lever L descends, it passes the beveledend 15 of the latch 10 and drops into a notch 16, whereupon the upperend of the latch is moved inward toward the housing H by means of aspring 17 and the switch lever is held in this position until the latchis tripped. At remote points alongside the main rail M in bothdirect-ions are located trips (as best seen in Fig. 6) eachcomprising anarm 20 standing alongside the ball of the rail and pivoted at 21 to itsweb, and a depending rear end 22 from which leads a chain 23 passingthrough a tube 24 alongside the rail and finally led over suitablepulleys 25 to and through the interior of the housing H and connected atthe point 26 with the lower end of the latch 10. It-follows from thisconstruction that when a train approaches along the main line, theflange of the front wheel of the locomotive depresses the trip 20, andits rear end 22 is moved outward to draw upon the chain 23 'so that thelatter pulls the lower end of the latch 10 inward against the tension ofits spring 17. and its hooked upper end frees the outer end of theswitch lever L,- and the spring S instantly rocks the shaft R in themanner above described. Hence it is impossible for a careless employeeto overlook the restoration of a main line switch to its normalposition, because even if he should do so an approaching express trainwould automatically reset the switch and clear the main line.

So much of my invention as has already been described will operate well,but in order to prevent the continuous vibration of the latch 10 underthe action of the many wheel flanges on the trip 20 as the whole trainpasses over it, I make use of the following details: The numeral 30designates a catch which may well be a flat spring secured at its innerend at a suitable point within the metal housing 12, and having itsouter end hooked at right angles as at 31 at a point to engage a recess32 in the lower end of the latch 10 and on its outer side, which recesscomes opposite said hook when a trip 20 gives the first jerk on thechain 23; and it follows that subsequent wheel-flanges passing over saidtrip will not jiggle the latch because the latter stands open thereafteras seen in Fig. 5. In order to permit the latch to close so as to holdthe switch lever L down, means must be provided to disengage the catch30. This consists of a trigger 33 pivotally supported between its endsas at 3 1 on any suitable support such as a bracket 35 projecting fromone side of the latch 10, the lower end 36 of the trigger standinginside the catch 30 and the upper end 37 of the trigger standingalongside the latch 10 and in position to be struck by the switch leverL when the latter is depressed. With this detail added, whenever aswitch is unlocked and its lever L turned over to the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2, it passes the beveled upper end 15 of the latch 10 andstrikes the upper end 37 of the trigger, which is thereby turned on itspivot 34 so that its lower end 36 trips the catch 30 and frees the latch10, and the latter may then move inward under the impulse of its spring17 so that it hooks over the switch lever L and holds the samedepressedmeanwhile drawing on the chain 23 to lift the trips 20 atdistant points along the track and at both sides of the switch.

I would employ a supplemental housing 12 rather closely inclosing allparts of this attachment so as to protect it from the weather and keepit as clean as possible.

As first above suggested, this attachment may be applied to the housingH of an ordinary switch throwing mechanism, and but little change needbe made therein.

If the switch lever L be weighted as shown at 1, I would add to the rockshaft the counterbalancing lever 3 and its weight 2, and the finger 5for lifting it at the proper time; but this detail is not absolutelynecessary, for the weight 1 might be omitted from the outer end of thelever Lespecially if the spring S were of sufficient strength to throwsaid lever in addition to its function of throwing the switch andsetting the signals if they exist.

The parts are obviously entirely of metal, and their details ofconstruction other than as above described, their sizes and theirproportions, are matters of no moment.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a switch, the combination with a horizontal rock shaft,connections between it and the switch-tongue, and means for turning theshaft automatically in a direction to close the switch; of a lever faston said shaft and projecting horizontally therefrom in one directionwhen the switch is closed, and horizontally in the opposite directionwhen the switch is open, and a counterbalancing lever and weight risingfrom the shaft at an obtuse angle to said switch lever when the latterstands in position tohold th switch open.

2. In a switch, the combination with a horizontal rock shaft,connections between it and the switch-tongue, and means for turning theshaft automatically in a direction to close the switch; of a lever faston said shaft and projecting horizontally therefrom in one directionwhen the switch is closed and horizontally in the opposite directionwhen the switch is open, and finger rising rigidly from said shaft whenthe switch lever stands in position to hold the switch open, acounterbalancing lever mounted loosely on the shaft alongside saidfinger and rising obliquely from the shaft and resting against thefinger, a stop for holding it in this position, and a counter-balancingweight at the outer end of this lever heavier than the switch lever, forthe purpose set forth.

3. In a switch, the combination with the switch-throwing mechanismincluding a rock shaft, means for automatically turning it in adirection to close the switch, and a main lever; of a spring-actuatedlatch disposed on said mechanism and positioned to engage said leverwhen the switch is open, trips carried by the main line rails at remotepoint-s, chains leading from said trips over suitable guides to saidlatch whereby the latter is automatically, disen gaged from theswitch-lever on the approach of a train along the main line, and aspring-actuated catch for holdingthe lat h in its disengaging position.

4. In a switch, the combination with the switch-throwing mechanismincluding a rock shaft, means for automatically turning it in adirection to close the switch, and a main lever; of a spring-actuatedlatch disposed on said mechanism and positioned to engage said leverwhen the switch is open, trips carried by the main line rails at remotepoints, chain leading from said trips through tubes and over pulleys tosaid latch whereby the latter is automatically disengaged from theswitch-lever on the approach of a train along the main line, aspring-actuated catch for holding thelatch in its disengaging position,and a trigger for disengaging the catch from the latch when the switchlever is again moved to open the switch.

5. In a switch, the combination with the switch-throwing mechanismincluding a rock shaft, means for automatically turning it in adirection to close the tongue, and a main lover; of a spring-actuatedlatch engaging said lever when the switch is open, trips carried by themain line rails at remote points, connections leading from said tripsover suitable guides to said latch whereby the latter is automaticallydisengaged from the switch lever on the approach of a train along themain line, a catch consisting of a spring-hook engaging the lower end.of said latch after the latter has been moved by said trips, and atrigger pivoted between its ends with its lower extremity engaging saidcatch and its upper extremity lying in the pat-h of the switchlever,whereby on the turning of the latter to again open the switch thetrigger is actuated to disengage the catch from the latch and permit thelatter to engage said lever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OLIVER L. LOGAN.

Witnesses:

JAMES S. LOGAN, REBEooA RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

